And Finally...Paying Tribute To The Tribute Bikes

While we're on the subject of rolling tributes, I think we'd be remiss if we didn't take some time to honor what is essentially an entire subgenre of bicycle: tribute bikes. If you've ever watched "American Chopper" or any other custom motorcycle fabrication show, you know that this sort of thing is common in the motorcycle world, and it would appear that the cycling community is following suit. As such, I'd like to take a look at some of the most moving tribute bikes out there today. Some I have featured before (as recently as this morning, in fact) and some I am posting for the very first time. But they all share one thing in common: enough emotional wallop to knock you right out of your saddle. Once you've browsed them, cast your vote for which tribute caused you the most tribulation. Then we can tuck the whole ugly subject in and put it to sleep.

Who could forget The Riddle? When I featured this bike in a post awhile back the response was nothing short of incendiary. A folk tale come to life, this is bike is tribute bikes.

Who knows what Candy Cane Bike owner's grandfather did to make his grandson resent him so much. Did he yell at him for getting Frito crumbs on the couch once? Did he bore him with one too many stories about the war? Or did his car just plain smell like old person? Whatever it was, it was enough to inspire this fierce and irreverent anti-tribute to imperialism and war crimes.

USA! USA! If Candy Cane Bike's Grandpa were to ride a bike, this would be it.

This Italian-American steed is a simple but powerful tribute to the immigrant experience--a humble peasant draped in the Stars and Stripes.

Lubing the chain on this tribute gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "Brazilian Wax."

There's nothing neutral about this bike--it's pro Swiss, baby! Not only does it sport the flag tape, but it's also chocolate brown, and like the knives for which Switzerland is famous, it's built to do anything. I think I even see a built-in toothpick.


This tribute to iconic 80s comedienne Whoopi Goldberg is nothing short of awesome. I immediately get nostalgic for her many stints hosting "Comic Relief" on HBO. The Robin Williams hairy arm applause-o-meter is going off the charts for this one.